newsitems
newsitems
ECB Spokeswoman Schuller to EuroFora: Trichet sticks to Growth Forecasts revised Upwards +Innovation
After ECB recently "revised Upwards" its Forecasts for EuroZone Economy's Growth in 2010 and 2011, and pointed at Innovation as main driver, it didn't change, nor issued any new forecasts, ensured "EuroFora" ECB's Press Spokeswoman, Regina Schüller, in reaction to some controversial interpretations of ECB's chief, Jean-Claude Trichet's statements at nearby Frankfurt on Thursday, which apparently misguided some people provoking irrational moves at certain Stockmarkets.
ECB's latest Report forecasts an EuroZone Growth up to "+1.5% in 2010, and .. + 2.2% in 2011", while it points at "Innovation" as EU's way out of the Global Crisis, citting recent Facts which give it a crucial importance for EuroZone's "return to Growth" to catch up with the US, Japan or China, etc. But it falls short from saying how this aim could be achieved, at the moment that EU prepares for a stronger Innovation-driven 2020 Economic Strategy.
Meanwhile, US and Japan seem to grow even faster than the EU for the moment, but this appears due to classical Consumer Stimulus, "Temporary" measures (boosting fex. Car and House sales, etc), while EU's stimulus policies apparently focus more on productive investment for modern activities, due to catch up with the US in the Future with a stronger, renovated European economy.
Previous "soft" EU economic policy, known as "Lisbon Strategy", notoriously failed to push RST spending to 3% of EU's GDP.
All this makes it even more urgent now, to find new ways to stimulate and planify EU's RST and Innovation policy, in the framework of a new "2020 Strategy" due to be prepared during the incoming Spanish EU chairmanship, which will debate its Programme at EU Parliament next week in Strasbourg with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Zapatero, in the run upo to an exceptional February 2010 EU Summit, convoked by EU Council's President, Herman van Rompoy, (together with the Environment/Climate issues), in view of final Economic policy Decisions at the Spring 2010 EU Council on March.
- "In his statements made on Thursday", Jan. 14, 2010, "the (ECB's) President (Jean-Claude Trichet) simply referred to the Forecasts published at the end of 2009 (See above). There are No New forecasts" now, ascertained "EuroFora" the Director of ECB's Press Service, Spokeswoman Regina Schûller. On Economy, "next forecasts are due on March" 2010, she added.
ECB "revised Upwards" its earlier "projections" for "the range for 2010", according to its latest Report, published at the end of 2009. It observed that "economic activity in the euro area improved further in the 3rd quarter of 2009, with real GDP growth returning to positive territory", "by 0.4% quarter on quarter", according to Eurostat’s first estimate", while "available survey data suggest that the recovery continued during the 4rth quarter of 2009" also.
"Eurosystem staff project annual real GDP Growth of between ..+0.1% and +1.5% in 2010, and between +0.2% and + 2.2% in 2011", ECB's Report issued on 29.12.2009 said..
+ Moreover, "there may be stronger than anticipated effects stemming from the extensive macroeconomic Stimulus being provided and from other policy measures taken".
"Confidence may also improve further, and Foreign Trade may recover more strongly than projected", it added.
"At present, the Euro area is benefiting from ...a recovery in Exports, as well as from the significant macroeconomic Stimulus under way and the Measures adopted to restore the functioning of the Financial system", added to "the inventory cycle", ECB observed, showing the success of EU Countries' economic recovery plans.
But it warned EuroZone to advance carefuly, because "activity is likely to be affected ... by the ongoing process of Balance sheet Adjustment in the financial and the non-financial sector" also "Outside the Euro area", (fex. in the USA, Japan, etc). And it advised to keep an eye on "a number of the supporting factors (which) are of a Temporary nature" (fex. the Stimulus poliies), for eventual "renewed increases in Oil and other commodity prices, ..intensification of Protectionist pressures, and possibilities of disruptive Market movements related to the correction of Global imbalances". I.e. mainly because of External factors, where "risks" look "largely balanced".
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In EuroZone, "Inflation is expected to remain Moderate over the policy-relevant horizon, with overall price, cost and wage developments staying subdued in line
with a Slow Recovery in demand in the euro area and elsewhere", but even better than ECB's "aim of keeping inflation rates below, but close to, 2% over the Medium term" : Indeed,"the December 2009 Eurosystem staff projections foresee annual HICP inflation of (only) 0.3% in 2009, between 0.9% and 1.7% in 2010, and between 0.8% and 2.0% in 2011", it ensured.
But, "several countries will have to start (Fiscal) Consolidation in 2010, and all others in 2011 at the latest", ECB observed, hoping that "increases in indirect Taxation and administered prices" wil not "be stronger than currently expected", and that Global "Commodity Prices" (fex. on Energy) will remain moderate.
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On "developments in the World Economy", ECB foresees "a further Expansion in Global activity", according to "the latest indicator-based evidence".
Already, "the return to Growth in Global Economic activity has also coincided with a recovery in World Trade""the World Economy", ECB added.
F.ex. "the Output Index reached ...a Level which represents the Highest reading since late 2007", ("54.2 in October 2009, up from 53.2 in the previous month), while "the overallGlobal Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) has continued to increase over recent Months, movingwell above the expansion/contraction threshold".
"Manufacturing remained the main driver of Growth, but Services also continued to indicate an Expansion. The Recovery in Global Manufacturing continued in November, for the 5th Month in a row, and remained rather Broad-based", ECB noted.
This attests a "gradual" "return to Growth in the major emerging markets, as well as in a number of advanced economies" : "The contraction in Global growth in the last quarter of 2008 and the 1st quarter of 2009 was followed by Positive Growth in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2009'".
"At the same time, Global Inflation rates have remained Low. In the OECD countries, headline CPI rose (only) by 0.2% in the Year to October" 2009, and ECB attested a "Downward pressure on Prices in recent Months".
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But "in the United States .... real GDP increased by 2.8% in annualised terms in the 3rd quarter of 2009", ("compared with a contraction of 0.7% in the 2nd quarter"), "economic conditions improved and activity recovered", "according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis".
However, the US "Pick-Up in economic activity reflected an increase in Consumer spending", which was added to "a strong rebound in Residential investment and Exports", as well as to "a less pronounced pace of inventory liquidation". Indeed, the American Government Stimulus Measures temporarily supported Private Demand, particularly in the Auto and Housing sectors", ECB observed.
An equivalent difference to European policies is seen "in Japan", where "the pace of economic activity picked up in the 3rd quarter of 2009, (while Consumer Prices continued to decline)" : "quarterly real GDP grew by 1.2% in the third quarter of 2009, corresponding to the Highest quarterly Growth rate in more than two Years" !
Here too, as in the US, "GDP growth in the third quarter of 2009 was mainly supported by Domestic Demand", which was added to "net Exports". "The Recovery was supported by the Fiscal Stimulus package" of the Japanese Government, after which, "Consumer Spending rose by 0.7%", and "Firms’ investment increased for the first time in six quarters, by 1.6%". "However, Residential Investment continued to fall sharply", and "looking ahead, the pace of improvement in economic activity is likely to be more Moderate" in Japan.
The point became obvious in "China, (where) annual GDP Growth accelerated to 8.9% in the third quarter of 2009... Fixed Asset Investment growth, driven mainly by the Fiscal package, contributed 7.3 % points to GDP Growth (which stood at 7.7% overall) .. from January to September....Private sector Investment also started to pick up, mainly driven by ..the Real Estate sector. The contribution from Consumption to GDP growth remained robust, at 4% points from January to September". But, already, in China "the contribution of net Exports was negative, however, and the Trade Surplus decreased to 4.3% of GDP .. from January to September 2009, from 6.1% in the same period last year (2008). The decline in the Trade Surplus was caused by a rapid Recovery in Imports, in turn boosted by ...an increased Demand for Imported commodities. The recovery in Exports was considerably Slower", ECB observes for China.
To face such a rising Global Competition, Europe obviously needs to act fast and succeed to catch-up in healthy and sustainable Growth with the US, Japan and/or China etc. in the medium and long term, thanks to EuroZone Government's preference to stimulate less Consumers' Demand and more Productive Investement in Strategic areas of High Technologies for the Future :
>>> Therefore, in the EU, "Policies that enhance Competition and INNOVATION are ...Urgently needed to speed up restructuring and Investment and to create New business Opportunities", stressed in conclusion ECB's latest Report.
Because, "most estimates indicate that the (Global) financial Crisis has reduced the Productive capacity of the Euro-area economies, and will continue to do so (at least) for some Time to come", according to ECB. That's why, in addition to the traditional remedy of "Labour market Flexibility and more effective Incentives to Work", "In order to support sustainable Growth and Employment", EU has to "Urgently" focus on "Policies enhancing Innovation".
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Moreover, at another ECB paper on EU's 2020 Economic Strategy, issued on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 at nearby Frankfurt, ECB stresses that "Policies that enhance competition and Innovation are Urgently needed to speed up restructuring and Investment, and to create the Productivity gains necessary to overcome past weaknesses. This would allow European countries to remain competitive in an increasingly interconnected, Global economy".
Therefore, ECB "agrees" with EU Commission on "the importance of Research and Innovation for stimulating Productivity gains", among "key" issues to an "EU 2020 Strategy".
In parallel, remains also a need for "sound Institutions supporting appropriate Wage-setting, facilitating job Mobility and matching in Labour markets and creating incentives to work", i.e. "the establishement of efficient and Flexible Labour Markets", according to EU Commisssion), which "are required to attain high levels of Employment and labour Participation", ECB added, asking both for a "greater Flexibility in the EU economy and an enhanced Governance framework".
( ECB faced its 1st Global Crisis since the foundation of EuroZone, shortly after it celebrated its first Decade with an exceptional Summit in Frankfurt on 6.2008)
* In doing so, "the 300 million Citizens' strong Monetary Watchdog, has (also) to keep a Unified policy for 16 EU Member Countries, more or less advanced on Structural Reforms, Trichet said on Thursday.
But, "Europe, ...compared ..with the US", has "more or less the same order of magnitude of standard Deviation" "at various indicators such as Growth, Inflation, unit Labour cost evolution", as "very Vast Single economy of more than 300 million Citizens", he observed.
Apparently, such local differencies should be taken into account when considering Trishet's estimation that, "for some Time to come .. it's "likely" that "Unemployment in the Euro-area is expected to increase somewhat further", while the .. Economy is expected to Grow only at a Moderate pace in 2010", as he said.
In EuroZone, ECB's Chief confirmed that "as an average for .. (the) year (2010), the mainstream of experts and analysts, as well as our own staff, is projecting slightly Positive Growth" : "We have a Period in front of us which is, fortunately, in black figures (i.e. with Positive Growth)", he ensured.
To a Question if he "see(s) any risk at all of a set back of the euro zone’s recovery in the 1st Quarter" of 2010, Trichet replied that, "as we have frequently said", ECB "do(es) not exclude that "we could pretty well have a rate of growth from quarter to quarter that would go up and down" : "we have a Bumpy road ahead of us”. "Since the start of the black figures" (i.e. of Positive Growth), we have never claimed Victory. We have always said we have to remain alert and prudent", he advised.
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But ECB's Chief was clearly Optimist on Inflation : "We see ...No Risk for a destabilisation of our Prices. Uncertainty and risks in both directions ..are balanced". ECB's decisions have "permitted us to anchor, very Solidly, inflation rate expectations ..in all circumstances, including in very difficult circumstances like today", he boasted.
"We expect Price Stability to be maintained over the Medium term, thereby supporting the Purchasing Power of Euro-area Households", ECB's chied reiterated.
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To a Question on "Financial System Reforms", touching upon Global Governance, Trichet replied that "we did our job properly in the past because we took very Bold Decisions and avoided depression. It is extremely important that all the economic agents realise the seriousness of the situation we would have had without the Rapidity and the Boldness of the Decisions taken by the ECB and other central Banks or the decisions of our Governments"
"But again, this is no time for complacency. We have a very hard job ahead of us", ECB's chief warned. "We cannot afford to have a Fnancial system which is as fragile in the Future as it has proved to be in the Past. Our Democracies in particular would not accept that. ...So we are obliged to find appropriate ways for making the (Financial) system more Resilient", "we are called upon to reform the financial system", he stressed, reminding also the recent job done in several ways, fex. through "the ECB, "the Financial Stability Board", "the Basel Committee", and "the G20", "the International Community", etc., in "enlarging Global Governance".
EU Commissioners-designates' Hearings, Debate + Vote by EU Parliament: Will EU Citizens have a say ?
"EuroFora" believes that the Hearings, Debates and Votes organized by EU Parliament on New EU Commissioners-designates throughout all January 2010 should provide an opportunity also for EU Citizens to interact with their elected MEPs and/or to engage in public Debates freely expressing their views on the main issues, while being duly informed, in order to boost Public Scrutiny and reinforce the Democratic character of EU's decision-making proces, while also contributing to make EU Institutions more popular, helping to bridge the infamous "gap" vis a vis the People.
For this purpose, EU Citizens could f.ex. have a fair chance, previously, to contact their MEPs at least for the preparation of the questions they will raise to EU Commissioners-designates, and/or in view of their Evaluation, final Debate and Vote, in order to timely and usefully exchange views. If it's not done now, it should be done in the Future, (starting to apply also the relevant EU Lisbon Treaty rules : fex. Art. 8 B).
For the moment, as things stand, EU Citizens can watch the Hearings on Video at :
http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/ebs/schedule.cfm
http://europa.eu/press_room/index_en.htm
http://europarltv.europa.eu/
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/hearings/default.htm?language=en
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/wps-europarl-internet/frd/vod/research-committee-and-other?byLeftMenu=researchotherevents&isSearchOtherEvents=true&language=en
Previous Hearings, before the entry into force of Lisbon Treaty, (whose Article 8 B asks for EU Citizens to participate in Public Debates on EU activities : See relevant replies to "EuroFora"s questions by EU Commission, EU Parliament and Spanish EU chairmanship at : ) , can be reviewed at : http://www.europarl.europa.eu/hearings/commission/default_en.htm
Thus, EU Citizens can compare and judge if there is any real change, and how important it is, or could and should be.
The very "tight" Time - SCHEDULE of the Hearings starts on Monday afternoon with Foreign Affairs (Ashton) and Development (Piebalgs), in parallel with Budget (Lewandowski), Economic and Monetary affairs (Rehn).
- It is followed, since Tuesday Morning, by Trade (De Gucht) and Taxation, Customs and anti-Fraud (Semeta).
Enlargement and Neighbourhoud policy (Füle), as well as International Cooperation, Crisis' responses and Humanitarian affairs (Jeleva), are on the Afternoon, in parallel with Human Rights and Citizenship (Reding), as well as Competition policy (Almunia).
- On Wednesday Afternoon, Environment (Potocnik) and Research, Innovation and Science (Geoghegan - Quinn), come in parallel with Employment and Social affairs (Andor), as well as Internal Market and Services (Barnier).
- On Thursday Morning, Energy (Oettinger) and Transports (Kallas). Followed, in the Afternoon, by Health and Consumer policy (Dalli), Education, Culture, Multilinguism and Youth (Vassiliou), as well as Digital Agenda (Kroes) and Regional policy (Hahn).
- Friday Morning, the Brussels' week concludes with Agriculture (Ciolos) and Climate (Hedegaard).
- Next week in Strasbourg, on the sidelines of the Plenary Session, EU Parliament starts on Monday evening with Industry and Entrepreneurship (Taviani), as well as Istitutional affairs and Administration (Sefcovic).
- It continues on Tuesday Morning with Home affairs (Malmstrom), in parallel with Maritime affairs and Fisheries (Damanaki).
The President of EU Commission (Barroso) was voted by EU Parliament before the entry into force of the new EU "Lisbon" Treaty, as early as since mid-September in Strasbourg, but the official anouncement of the EU Commissioners-designate and their portofolios came only 2,5 Months later, (after the completion of "Lisbon" Treaty's Ratification), at the end of November.
Once EU "Lisbon" Treaty entered into force, December 2009 was used for a formal, written procedure, during which EU Parliament send a Questionaire to each Commissioner-designate, who replied also by writing.
It's only on January 2010 that start direct, oral Questions - Answers and Debates between MEPs and EU Commissioners-designates. They will be evaluated by each EU Parliament's Committee, as well as by the Chairmen of the Political Groups, until the final, General Debate and Vote, which is due before the end of the Month (Jan. 29), so that the new EU Commission might be able to begin working, with EU Council's approval, from February 2010.
In strictly Legal terms, EU Parliament can only vote for, or against, the entire EU Commission's team. But, in practice, it has been established that MEPs might refuse 1 or 2 Commissioners only, who should then be replaced by new Candidates, able to agree on the main Political issues with the Majority in EU Parliament which was voted by EU Citizens as it emerged from June 2009 EU Elections.
It's through this process that EU Citizens hope to make their democratically expressed choices respected.
* Here is a LIST of Commissioners-designate according to their areas of competence :
- Commission President : José Manuel Barroso (EPP), Portugal
- EU foreign policy chief (Vice-President) : Catherine Ashton (PES), United Kingdom
- Industry and Entrepreneurship (Vice-President) : Antonio Tajani (EPP), Italy
- Transport (Vice-President) : Siim Kallas (ELDR), Estonia
- Competition (Vice-President) : Joaquín Almunia (PES), Spain
- Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship (Vice-President) : Viviane Reding (EPP), Luxembourg
- Institutional Affairs and Administration (Vice-President) : Maros Sefcovic (PES), Slovakia
- Digital Agenda (Vice-President) : Neelie Kroes (ELDR), The Netherlands
- Budget : Janusz Lewandowski (EPP), Poland
- Internal Market and Services : Michel Barnier (EPP), France
- Economic and Monetary Affairs : Oli Rehn (ELDR), Finland
- Trade : Karel De Gucht (ELDR), Belgium
- Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud : Algirdas Šemeta (EPP), Lithuania
- Energy : Günther Oettinger (EPP), Germany
- Agriculture : Dacian Ciolos (EPP), Romania
- Maritime Affairs and Fisheries : Maria Damanaki (PES), Greece
- Regional policy : Johannes Hahn (EPP), Austria
- Research, Innovation and Science : Maire Geoghegan Quinn (ELDR), Ireland
- Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth : Androulla Vassiliou (ELDR), Cyprus
- Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion : László Andor (PES), Hungary
- Home Affairs : Cecilia Malmström (ELDR), Sweden
- Health and Consumer Policy : John Dalli (EPP), Malta
- Environment : Janez Potocnik (ELDR), Slovenia
- Climate Action : Connie Hedegaard (EPP), Denmark
- Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy : Stefan Fuele (PES), Czech Republic
- International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response : Rumiana Jeleva (EPP), Bulgaria
- Development : Andris Piebalgs (EPP), Latvia
Biggest UN Summit in History at Copenhagen on Climate: Twin Win for EU if action is taken on 2010 ?
*Copenhagen/Angelo Marcopolo/(Viewpoint)/- The biggest ever Summit of Heads of State and Government in UNO's History, as its Secretary General Ban Ki Moon called the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, which gathered some 129 Leaders out of 198 Countries' delegations, contrary to pessimist interpretations that it was a "catastrophic failure", can be a Twin Win for Europe's Worldwide Diplomacy, particularly if due action is taken on 2010, facts observed by "EuroFora" on the spot clearly indicate.
Some caricatural critics present the outcome as a total catastrophe for Europe and Climate, claiming that the EU would have been marginalised by a kind of "G-2" dominated by the US and China, and that any real decision able to meet the "Global Warming" challenge would have been dropped at Copenhagen.
But a differend interpretation looks closer to Facts, (particularly if they are seen inside a Dynamic Context, and not as static, isolated bits) :
On the contrary, Europe, by presenting from the start the most advanced position on CO2 Emmission cuts and on Financial Aid to Developing Countries (since Brussels' EU Summit), apparently incited USA, China and others to enter into UNFCCC''s framework and play the game, for the 1st time in History, undertaking some insufficient but real commitments, (f.ex. on aiming to reduce Temperature rise to less than 2%, on dressing an annualy reviewed Catalogue of each Country's undertakings, on helping Developing Countries and funding Forests, on preparing a Legally Binding Treaty, etc. See earlier "EuroFora"'s publications from Copenhagen).
If Europe didn't accept this 1st step, which now covers all countries involved, taking pretext of its insufficiency to fight Global Warming, then USA and China would remain, as before, without any obligation regarding Climate Change, as French President Sarkozy observed, (who was never among those who tried to isolate US President Obama, but was rather trying convince him to join the collective efforts). By accepting that elementary deal, basically brokered between USA and China's Premier Jiabao, Europe took the stance of a responsible and reliable partner.
However, since, obviously, the highly Controversial "Copenhagen accord" falls short from meeting the basic requirements for an efficient fight against Global Warming, (fex. by not being Legally Binding, by ommitting to determine the CO2 Emmissions' Cuts for each Country, by leaving the 2050 Deadline without clear commitments,
by being vague in USA's and others' contributions to Help for developing countries, etc : See ealier "EuroFora"s Newsreports), Europe, by refusing to endorse the paternity for that text, keeps intact its potential for a positive, constructive but strong Criticism of its insufficiencies.
Thus, EU can join arms and closely cooperate with the International Public Opinion's movement for the protection of Environment, (which asks for measures close to those adopted by EU's Brussels Summit on December 10, 2009 : See earlier "EuroFora"'s NewsReports from the spot), Scientists, NGOs, other concerned Counties, etc., as well as Millions of simple Citizens sincerely worried by the unusual frequence of Extreme Weather Phenomena, since it's Europe that has proposed the most advanced measures for a successful fight against Global Warmiing.
Sarkozy, working as usual closely together with Merkel, brought the UK inside the EU play, and (unlike others) didn't seek to isolate the USA nor China, but preferably incite a Multi-Speed, Multi-Stage Worldwide movement at all levels, but with one direction :
In a kind of "ZweiStufen" moves, according to a German formula which should be familiar to Chancellor Merkel, European diplomacy seems to have succeeded to both involve US and China in UNO's FCCC work, for the 1st time in History, AND to take a World-wide lead on the fight against Global Warming, keeping its huge potential for vital, healthy Criticism of the controversial "Copenhagen Accord" intact.
In principle, this leaves the EU free to defend its Industry from Unfair Competition and Environmental Dumping by imposing, fex. a "Carbon Tax" at its External Borders to merchandises produced in Countries which don't respect EU Standards for the fight against Climate Change. As well as to deal, fex. with 3rd Countries according to their behavior vis a vis EU-sponsored Standards for the fight against Global Warming, and/or differenciated EU stance vis a vis 3rd Countries according to the commitments they will undertake in the next few Months on the agreed UNFCCC's Annual Annexe (See earlier "EuroFora"s NewsReports).
In fact, after Copenhagen, now it all depends on what will happen next in 2010, mainly during the Paris' meetings scheduled for Spring, before the bi-weekly preperatory UNFCCC meeting at Bonn, this Summer, in view of Mexico's COP16 December Summit, as well as on how UNO's Secretary General Ban Ki Moon will handle, meanwhile, his intention to use the link between Climate Change and Development as a key for a solution, (See relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReport).
(Chavez and other countries' representatives protesting)
- "We were astonished by the way that the Danish Chair came to see us with an already prepared Draft Decision, instead of leaving us, at first, free to discuss at least the most important matters, as that on how to help the necessary "Adaptation" of Developing Countries to the measures against Climate Change", said to "EuroFora" African MP, Dr. Jerome Zampou, from Burkina Faso, (who was blocked, together with the wife of the Swedish Ambassador to -and former Chairman of- the CoE, NGOs, Experts, erc, at Copenhagen until Monday evening, after AirFlights to Strasbourg were cancelled because of a Snowstorm).
( Copenhagen Summit "took note" of a controversial deal, which suddenly fell as unexpectedly as snow)...
Now, after Copenhagen, 2010 offers a base and a time-frame for such required moves from all those involved.
(1st PHOTO supra : A Chinese Baby, at Andersen's little Mermaid famous statue in Copenhagen's Seaport the day after 2009 UNFCCC : - What Climate will he see in 2050 ?)
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New UN SG Spokesman Nesirky to EuroFora: Ban Ki Moon to link Climate Change and Development in 2010
Speaking by Phone after Ban Ki Moon's brief Press Conference at Copenhagen, Nesirky said to "EuroFora" that "the SG will continue obviously to push the Climate Change Treaty negotiations that need to take place in order to have a Legally binding Treaty as soon as possible, but he also ...wishes ..to focus more clearly on Development. F.ex. on the Millenium Development Goals, and also on Africa, among other things"
- "These are some of the areas" on which "he will be also elaborating ...early in the New Year" 2010. He has given a taste just before he headed to Copenhagen's Press Conference", and I anticipate (that) he'll give more details early in January" 2010".
- Millenium Development Goals "of course" are linked" with Climate Change, as part of the parcel, and we know that some of the most vulnerable countries, or less developed countries face the worst consequencies of Climate Change. So, there is a clear link between the two, and he's very vocal on that". "Of course, there are also other topics" on Development issues, "such as Child Mortality, Aids", Education, "etc. that are also very important but not directly linked to Climate Change". But UNO's SG "sees the work that's still to be done on the Millenium Goals partly on that context".
Development concerns were obviously an important part of the causes which made it difficult to obtain a Legally binding deal at Copenhagen's UNO Summit on Climate Change, instead of a merely "Political agreement", of which, UNFCC simply "took note". (See earlier "EuroFora"'s Newsreports from the event).
However, "Copenhagen Accord may not be everything that everyone hoped for", "but this ...is a new beginning", as UNO's SG stressed at a brief Press point yesterday, after a sleepless night at Copenhagen, before leaving for New York.
- "All countries have agreed to work toward a common... goal to limit global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius."Many governments have made important commitments to reduce or limit emissions", and "significant progress on preserving Forests. Countries have agreed to provide comprehensive support to the most vulnerable to cope". "30 billion dollars have been pledged for adaptation". Countries have backed the goal of mobilizing $100 billion dollars a year by 2020 for Developing countries. "The countries that had stayed on the periphery of the Kyoto process, are now at the heart of global Climate action"
- But, " we need to turn this agreement into a Legally Binding Treaty", and to"launch" a "Green Climate Fund", in order to "ensure that it can ...start to deliver immediate results to people in need and jump-start Clean Energy Growth in Developing Countries. Finally, "we must need to pursue the road of Higher Ambition", because "current commitments fail to meet the Scientific bottom line". "It will take more than this to .. tackle Climate change", "this is just a beginning", he conluded.
Ban Ki Moon explained that he "tried (his) best", without even time to sleep, to find a decision by "consensus".
But "more than 130 Leaders participated this time. This was Unprecedented in the History of the UN". And "many countries have different conditions and situations", while "hhis has been also a very difficult and complex negotiating process".
Thus, even if it was not yet possible at Copenhagen in 2009, UNO's Secretary General said, in reply to Press Questions, that he expects for the USA to determine soon the amount of a "fair share" in the necessary Funding of the Global Fight against Climate Change, particularly vis a vis poor, developing Countries, and promissed, despite the lack of an agreed Time Deadline, to do his best in order to transform the Political Agreement into "a Legally Binding Treaty in 2010".
The point has a strategic importance also for the Economy, because the Business community would massively invest on "Green Growth" Technologies if it had a binding agreement on time, helping to shape the after-Crisis era during the next few years.
(+ Addition - 21/12/09 : A first move confirming the new UN Spokesman's sayings to "EuroFora" was made one day later by Ban Ki Moon himself when, in statements at N.Y. on the Copenhagen's Summit, he anounced his intention to "consider how to [improve] the ..process", particularly by "look(ing) at how to encompass the full context of Climate change and Development in the negotiations".
For that purpose, "early next year", (2010), "I will establish a High-level Panel on Development and Climate change, to strategically address such issues", UNO's Secretary General anounced).
(NDLR ! For earlier Statements by UNO Secretary General's New Spokesman, former OSCE's Spokesman, Martin Nesirky to "EuroFora", see also : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/osceberlin.html ).
Participants to UNO Copenhagen Climate Change Conference blocked by Extreme Weather phenomena
* Copenhagen/Angelo Marcopolo/- Rare intensity Snowstorms unexpectedly blocked several participants to UNO's Summit on the Climate at Copenhagen, while also USA's coasts were reportedly hardly hit by similar Extreme Weather phenomena said to be provoked by Climate Change.
Not only flights for Africa, but also flghts to Amsterdam, or for Germany, from Berlin to the South (f.ex. Frankfurt) were cancelled, as well as for Manchester (UK), Strasbourg, Lyon and Paris (France), etc.
And this was not the end of the story : F.ex. Copenhagen - Strasbourg Airflight booked by "EuroFora" was first cancelled, and afterwards, another similar, remplacement fiight was hindered to land in Strasbourg because too much snow had blocked the landing area, obliging the plane to head towards Lyon, before it runs out of fuel...
Among various participants to the UNFCCC were CoE Officials, MPs, Experts, NGOs, Journalists (as "EuroFora"), etc, and even some representatives of the Swedish EU Presidency, including f.ex. the wife of the Swedish Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the CoE, who had just chaired the Paneuropean Organization in 2008 before Sweden takes over in 2009 the EU chair.
But apparently UNO's Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, who had initially scheduled to remain at Copenhagen until Monday, 21 December 2009, managed to arrive earlier at New York, and plans to give a Press Conference on Monday morning, N.Y. local time, his new Spokesman, Martin Nesirsky told "EuroFora". (NDLR ! For earlier Statements by UNO Secretary General's s New Spokesman, to "EuroFora", see also : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/osceberlin.html ).
Meanwhile, Copenhaqen's famous symbol : the little mermaid, from Andersen's poems and legends, was full of snow, looking straight ahead to an icy penguin statue, while industrial pollution at the background unfortunately continued to spoil the beatiful landscape..
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It's important to create a synergy between "mutually stimulating" EU Countries' moves in order to overcome an "Unjust" Crisis "imported from USA", stressed new French Minister for Economic Revival, Patrick Devedjian, in Strasbourg, warning also that, while hoping for a vigorous Obama US Plan, nevertheless, "Time" is of essence for Europe...
In fact, it's EU's own interest to act Fast, before June 2009 EU Election, since, with Lisbon Treaty not ratified yet, it cannot face again the risk of a Majority Abstention, as back in 1999 and 2004, nor another "anti-EU" mood among Citizens, as in the 2005 French and Dutch "No", followed by the 2008 Irish "No", without endangering rare Historic opportunities, currently open for the EU, whose future is at stake.
From Social issues up to High-Tech Scientific Research, concrete action for Economic revival started from Strasbourg and its European dimension, for the new super-Minister Patrick Devedjian, who visited a Popular Social Housing and Infrastructure project at nearby Hagenau village, before meeting new leaders of Strasbourg's unified mega-University in a Scientific Labo at the Campus, close to EU Parliament and CoE headquarters.
Devedjian, who met also with all the spectrum of Local Political deciders of Alsace region, close to FrancoGerman borders, wants for deeds to meet the words, in real practice, whenever politicians speak about Strasbourg and Europe's development.
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Devedjan to "EuroFora" : "European coordination can act as a multiplicator by mutual stimulations"
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Devedjian was questioned by "Euro-Fora" on his expectations for reciprocal effects of coordinated European plans :
- "We are living in a (European and Global) system where borders are transparent : When we take measures in France, they produce effects also in Germany, in Belgium, Italy, Spain, or other EU countries, and vice-versa. "So, we can have mutually stimulating effects between national revival Plans, if they are somehow coordinated", ..."They can augment each other's effects, acting as multiplicators and levers". "As a State stimulates Local authorities and Private business, similarly, each EU country's economic revival plan may multiply the effects of other EU countries' actions", he told us.
- "F.ex., when I visited Strasbourg University's Scientific labos, they told me that part of the renovation, funded by France, is realized by German companies located only a few Kms away from the border. Thus, the French revival plan benefits also the German economy. And vice-versa : when Germany takes certain measures, they can have beneficial effects also for French companies"
In an era of Globalisation, "nobody can close and isolate himself inside a Fish-Bowl !", he concluded.
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Economy's revival starts from Strasbourg and Europe, for new French Minister Devedjian
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This could be one of the reasons for which the new French Minister for Economic Stimulus chose to make his 1st visit to Strasbourg, the headquarters of European and Paneuropean Institutions, in the Franco-German river borders at the heart of Europe.
- "It was President Sarkozy's idea", he revealed, adding also fresh "support to Strasbourg's European vocation, not only with words, but also with deeds" :F.ex., the completion of a High-Speed Train network, due to stimulate fast links with Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary and other central EU Countries.
- "This Crisis is Unjust for Europe, because it wasn't its fault". The greatest part of the "Crisis was imported from the USA, where problems are deeper than here'', in the EU. The Crisis "wasn't due to a bad managment by Europe", who was affected by problems which emerged elsewhere. That's why Europe must be united and active enough to face this challenge. said Devedjian, who has just won +5% in popularity...
- "I hope that there will be an "Obama-effect" also on Economy, and that the Plan of the New American President will be substantial enough to face this crisis, which is worse in the USA than in our area", Europe, he added.
"Economic Revival overcomes political divisions : F.ex. Strasbourg's Socialist Mayor "Ries agreed that State actions funded by Public Debt are justified during such exceptional circumstances", noted the Center-Right republican Minister.
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"Zeitnot" for 2009 EU Elections ?
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"My problem is Time", stressed Devedjian from the outset, at Strasbourg's University. "I have to engage 75% of funds in 2009, out of a total of 29 Billion euros", he explained later. "Monitoring will be of essence", because we must "avoid bureaucracy or delays. No project should get lost or neglected in complex meanders of adminstrative offices' moving sands", he warned.
- "I must create activities in the middle of the Crisis", he added. Questioned by EuroFora whether he aims to start creating some "hopes before the June 2009 EU Elections", Devedjian, a former leader of the Governing Political Party in France: UMP, did not immediately reply, but revealed, later, that he "hoped to start at least some Projects on May 2009, even if the bulk of Revival Plan's effects are "expected from Autumn 2009".
However, with only 30% of EU Citizens currently aiming to cast a vote at the forthcoming EU Elections on June, (See other NewStory), the coordinated moves' results are expected to be crucial for Citizens' participation and votes at the forthcoming June 2009 EU Elections throughout all 27 EU Member Countries...Thus, it's vital for all Europe's own Future that coordinated national Economic revival plans start to have concrete results and create hopes for new dynamics before the June 2009 EU Election...
A real challenge, since careful choices are needed : Our aim is to fund projects which "create activities", even "in the middle of the crisis", and have a "lever effect, attracting other investments", Devedjian said. Because the "Stimulus' Plan has 2 aims : A Tactical one : to create New Activities. And a Strategic one : Choose what can become efficient and useful also in the Long-term".
- "Are you ready ?", he asked Strasbourg University's new President, professor Alain Beretz, with some 700 million euros in his pockets for Education-Research in France. - "We are !", he replied.
- "The Minister's initiative can accelerate funds, and Time is important for us. This concerns the entire renovation of all our buildings", said to "EuroFora" President, Beretz. "I showed some Scientific Research Labos to Mr. Devedjian. But, If we had more time, I could show him also some Education Amphis, whose condition needs to meet Strasbourg's new Mega-University's ambition" to reach the 10 best in the World, as Prime Minister Fillon earlier anounced here.
(Devedjian kicks off his Economic Revival tour from Strasbourg University, meeting with its new chairman Beretz, at Scientific Institute Le Bel)
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Regional Prefectures should gather and select projects to be presented for decision before the end of January 2009.
A well-known close friend of President Sarkozy, who succeeded as EU Chairman to launch, in agreement with German chancelor Merkel and even British prime minister Brown, vigorous EU actions against the Financial/Economic Crisis, (starting from the 1st Historic Summit of EuroZone's Heads of State/Government, October 12 at Elysee Palace, followed by Washington G20 Global Summit), Devedjan will have a key role in the realisation of National and EU plans recently agreed in Brussels.
President Sarkozy is expected to arrive himself in Strasbourg, on the occasion of the official inauguration of its brand New Mega-Hospital, on the 9th of January 2009, at the eve of EU Parliament's session here, Elysee confirmed shortly after Devedjian's visit.
EU is due to review its economic revival plans at March 2009 EU Council in Prague, before the April 2 London Global Summit.
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Multi-facet concrete activities at focus : Stimulus Minister Devedjian at the Political, Social and High-Tech fronts in Strasbourg...
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